Aucklanders love their period homes and finding a complete do-up is becoming a rare occurrence, so the owner of this very handily located cottage, built in the 1890s, knew she had a challenge to rise to – and that’s exactly what she’s done, after purchasing it in 2016.
“The house was mostly tidy, but the kitchen was in a rear lean-to, and the bathroom floor was so rotten, my builders told me I was lucky the bath didn’t fall through with me in it,” she says.
10 Belmont Terrace in Remuera, Auckland has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. After engaging, Ben Bos, from Bos Construction, she worked very closely with him to come up with plans for the renovation.
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Before the renovation, the vendor says the kitchen was in a rear lean-to. Photo / Supplied
“He’s amazing,” she says. “If I described something I wanted, he would always find a way to make it happen and he really understood that I wanted to blend the old and the new to honour the home’s heritage.”
As is typical in properties of its era, there were many separate rooms, and the owner – who lived in a rental straight across the street for the duration of the renovation – had the rear of the house rebuilt as a bright, airy, open-plan living, dining and very well-appointed kitchen zone, which incorporates a family room as well and enjoys loads of sun thanks to recessed skylights.
Also at the rear is a combined bathroom and laundry.
The deck and swimming pool lie outside the sitting room. Photo / Supplied
She kept the front of the house largely the same footprint, adding in an elegant ensuite and equally appealing family bathroom.
Original features such as kauri floorboards, a fireplace, and sash windows have been refurbished and retained throughout, complementing other more modern touches. Although the section is a compact 388sqm, it feels much bigger thanks to careful and creative planning.
A large sunny deck lies outside the sitting room and beyond that, a sparkling swimming pool surrounded by attractive, easy-care, well-established plantings.
The vendor says 10 Belmont Terrace is literally just one minute’s walk from Newmarket train station. Photo / Supplied
The owner is delighted with the results of all the hard work and says it’s a lovely house to live in.
10 Belmont Terrace is literally just one minute’s walk from Newmarket train station so getting to the city is easy or you can head in the opposite direction for destinations such as Sylvia Park.
Of course, Newmarket is home to the glitzy Westfield 277 with its upmarket boutiques, department stores, eateries, supermarkets, cinema and other attractions.
The vendor had the rear of the house rebuilt as a bright, airy, open-plan living, kitchen and dining zone. Photo / Supplied
Schools in zone include Auckland Grammar, Epsom Girls Grammar, Remuera Intermediate and Newmarket school.
Now pursuing a change of direction, the owner is sad to be leaving and says that amongst many other things, she will miss the birdsong.
“I don’t know if it’s because of lockdown but there are so many of them and it’s lovely.”
Although the section is a compact 388sqm, it feels much bigger thanks to careful and creative planning. Photo / Supplied
Nicki Lambert from Ray White Remuera says people realise that this is something very special as soon as they walk in. “Your gaze is drawn down the hallway and you soon start discovering hidden delights. You won’t be disappointed.”
Lambert and colleague Nick Lyus are marketing this property.
10 Belmont Terrace in Remuera, Auckland goes to auction on December 8.
